"Digging for their lives: Russia's volunteer body hunters" Topic

Fascinating article on the BBC website,
"Of the estimated 70 million people killed in World War Two, 26 million died on the Eastern front – and up to four million of them are still officially considered missing in action. But volunteers are now searching the former battlefields for the soldiers' remains, determined to give them a proper burial – and a name."

link

Great article. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing.

Gods speed …

Thank you for sharing this article with us.

It's incredible that after the war, the communists planted trees in the areas where many Soviet soldiers fell. But instead of doing this, why not give your own country's soldiers a decent burial? It would have meant a lot to their loved ones.

I'm not trying to be difficult; I just can't help wondering.

Powerful, brought tears to my eyes.

Dan

Over the years the United States has made an effort to recover, identify and return those servicemen/women that were lost overseas. Until they are all brought home!

The US is a rich country, well governed and with a free press to keep people abreast of the hunt for our missing dead. Many other countries don't have the financial luxury, resources and dedicated purpose that we do.

Dan

On the main road from Domfront to Saint-Mars-d'Egrenne there is a rather touching memorial to an American Officer, put up on the spot where he was killed in 1944. The kind of thing that a wealthy American family could do, that no Russian family could have done.

The same work continues on the Seelow Heights where thousands of German soldiers were overwhelmed during the last days of WW2.

The core issue is volume. More Soviet soldiers died at Stalingrad than ALL British, Commonwealth and US deaths in the whole war. There is not just a logistic problem here, but a one of psychological damage.

Finally, different nations perceive their military dead in different ways. As an Englishman I find it odd that Americans want to repatriate their dead. I'm proud to rediscover Commonwealth War Graves in scores of countries. My uncle is buried in the one by the Brooklyn Bridge. My 4 great-uncles are all buried in France. A Russian probably sees it yet another way.

Religious faith is a major factor in the way nations honour their war dead. Under Communism respect for the dead was limited. (The Seelow Heights work is led by a Lutheran pastor. The rise of Russian burial groups coincides with the restoration of Orthodox Christianity in Russia.) I find the dedication of these people inspirational.